The big picture
1 Timothy 5 opens in verse 1 with “Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;”, reaches its middle movement near verse 13 with “And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only…”, and closes in verse 25 with “Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are…” Repeated or prominent terms include widows, good, house, some, younger. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Timothy · King James Version · 251 Timothy 5:1-7
1–7: Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as…
1 Timothy 5:1–7 opens with “Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;” and reaches “And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The church honoring older members, supporting vulnerable widows, correcting fairly, and caring for households, with particular weight carried by elder, liveth, widow.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;” Naming Rebuke keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Timothy 5:1-7
King James Version1Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
2The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
3Honour widows that are widows indeed.
4But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
5Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
6But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
7And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
1 Timothy 5:8-14
8–14: If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own…
1 Timothy 5:8–14 opens with “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the…” and reaches “I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The church honoring older members, supporting vulnerable widows, correcting fairly, and caring for households, with particular weight carried by house, children, faith.
Context that brings the passage to life
“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse…” The line’s distinctive content terms include denied, faith, house. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
1 Timothy 5:8-14
King James Version8But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
9Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
10Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
11But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
12Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
13And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
14I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
1 Timothy 5:15-21
15–21: For some are already turned aside after Satan.
1 Timothy 5:15–21 opens with “For some are already turned aside after Satan.” and reaches “I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The church honoring older members, supporting vulnerable widows, correcting fairly, and caring for households, with particular weight carried by relieve, widows, worthy.
Context that brings the passage to life
“For some are already turned aside after Satan.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
1 Timothy 5:15-21
King James Version15For some are already turned aside after Satan.
16If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
17Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
18For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
19Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
20Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
21I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
1 Timothy 5:22-25
22–25: Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins…
1 Timothy 5:22–25 opens with “Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.” and reaches “Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise can…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The church honoring older members, supporting vulnerable widows, correcting fairly, and caring for households, with particular weight carried by some, beforehand, men’s.
1 Timothy 5:22-25
King James Version22Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.
23Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.
24Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
25Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise can not be hid.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Timothy 5:1 begins with “Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;”
Where the chapter turns
1 Timothy 5:11 forms a natural hinge: “But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;”
The final note
1 Timothy 5:25 leaves the reader with “Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise can not be hid.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words widows, good, house, some, younger, children help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What does the repeated ending make readers feel?
Death becomes the chapter's persistent refrain, even as generation follows generation.
What two interruptions offer hope?
Enoch's walk with God and Lamech's hope attached to Noah.
KJV words made clear
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.